Phillies 2B Utley denies hip injury

Jul 28, 2008 - 6:09 PM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Chase Utley cannot find a tangible reason behind his recent hitting slump. However, the star second baseman has insisted that a potential hip injury is not the source of the problem.

Utley denied claims made Sunday by Philadelphia Phillies general manager Pat Gillick, who told reporters that the All-Star slugger is playing through a sore right hip.

Utley, who has the sixth-most home runs in the majors this season, is batting just .236 with only one homer and four RBI over his last 18 games. The Phillies have been inconsistent over that stretch, going just 9-10.

"(Utley) is having a little bit of a problem with his hip," Gillick said. "It's been a little bit sore. Nothing to keep him out of the lineup, but certainly if it's sore a little bit, it could have some effect on his hitting."

But Utley did not acknowledge the injury following Sunday's 12-10 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

"I don't know anything about that," he told reporters. "I understand why you'd ask the question because I think I'd ask the same question."

A one-time candidate for the National League MVP, Utley still is having an excellent season for the Phillies (56-49), who trail the first-place New York Mets (57-48) by one game in the NL East Division. In 103 games, Utley is batting .288 with 25 homers and 71 RBI.